Toy electrical engine



Aug. 19, 1947. D. J. WEIRICH 2 TOY ELECTRICAL ENGINE Filed Aug. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l u, s r )3 22 I2 fi 23 f 1 1 2 as l4 Inventor David J. We irich,

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Aug. 19, 1947. D. J. WEIRICH TOY ELECTRICAL ENGINE Filed Aug. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor David J. We'uich Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE TOY ELECTRICAL ENGINE David J. Weirich, Williamstown, N. J.

Application August 22, 1945, Serial No. 612,079

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful mp ovements in toy electric in s, and has for its primary object to provide a device of this character ons ructed to simulat a V-type internal combustion engine such as provided as the power plant for automobiles and other purposes.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a toy electric engine of this character including a pair of electromagnets arranged in V formation and ope-rated by any suitable source of current and including armatures operated by the electromagnets for driving a crankshaft and to which various types of toys may be operatively connected.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for alternately energizing the electromagnets to deliver power strokes to the crankshaft in a manner to provide for the continuous rotation thereof, together with means for reversing the direction of rotation of the crankshaft, as well as for regulating the speed thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, neat and attractive in appearance and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation, as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sliding brushes for regulating the speed and reversing the crankshaft.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the crankshaft.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a metal base and to which a pair of upwardly extending, spaced-apart bearing brackets 6 are attached in which a crankshaft I is journaled and provided with a pair of cranks 8 and 9 arranged substantially at an angle of 90 with respect to each other. To each end of the crankshaft I is secured a flywheel III having a pulley II attached thereto and to which a belt (not shown) may be attached for operating any suitable toy.

A pair of L-shaped brackets I2 and I3 are also mounted at an inclined angle in substantially V-shaped formation by means of supports I4 of conductive material, and to which electro-magnets I5 and I6 are attached.

Armatures I1 and I8 are pivotally attached at one end to the upper ends of the brackets I2 and I3, respectively, and extend transversely across the magnets for actuation thereby when the magnets are energized. Connecting rods I9 and 26 are pivotally attached at the outer ends of the armatures I! and I8 respectively, the connecting rods extending downwardly and inwardly for attaching respectively to the cranks 8 and 9 of the crankshaft.

The brackets I2 and I3 are constructed of soft iron to conduct magnetic force, which completes a magnetic circuit through armatures l1 and I8 and the iron cores of coils I5 and I6.

Terminals 2| and 22 are attached to the base 5 by means of a bracket 23 and to which circuit wires from a suitable source of current may be attached, the terminal providing an electrical connection for the magnets through a circuit wire 24 and supports I4.

The electromagnets I5 and I6 are alternately energized by means of a pair of cam 25 and 26 secured to the crankshaft and operable between the spaced-apart upstanding legs of U-shaped brushes 2'! and 28, respectively, supported on an insulation sliding block 29.

Each end of the block 29 is formed with a slot 30 for slidably "receiving a headed screw 3| extending upwardly from the base 5, the screws and slots serving as guides for the sliding movement of the block. The brushes 2! and 28 are connected to the respective electromagnets I5 and I6 by means of the circuit wires 32 and 33.

The electric circuit is through terminal 22, bracket 23, base 5, brackets 6, crank shaft I then to earns 25 and 26 which contact brushes 2'! and 28, then to coils by way of wires 32 and 33 and then back through wire 24 to terminal 2| which is insulated.

In the operation of the device, the electromagnets are intermittently and alternately energized by the cams 25 and 26 contacting the respective brushes 21 and 28, whereby to deliver successive power strokes to the crankshaft I for rotating the same.

The rotation of the crankshaft I may be reversed by sliding the brushes 2'! and 28 so that the cams will contact opposite sides of the brushes, the cranks 8 and 9 of the crankshaft then being positioned in an opposite direction for receiving the power impulse from the connecting rod.

The speed of the engine may be controlled by moving the brushes relative to the came to increase or decrease the area of the contacting surface of the cams with the brushes.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

A toy electric engine comprising a plurality of electromagnets, an armature pivoted above each magnet for actuation thereby, a crankshaft mounted for rotation between the magnets, connecting rods between the armatures and the DAVID J. WEIRICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 160,495 Williamson Mar. 2, 1875 830,800 Mortimer Sept. 11, 1906 842,413 Miller Jan. 29, 1907 

